Electric iron



Oct. 11, 1932, Y F. KUHN ET A1.. 3,851,695v

ELECTRIC IRON Filed March 18, 1929 INVENTORS ATTORNEYS wherein:

- the iron comprises a heat distributing base 10,

Patented Oct. ll, 1932 .UNITED STATES PATENT ormoE FRANK KUHN,AND LAURENCE H. THOMAS, OIF DETROIT, MICHIGAN,y ASSIGNOBS TO AMERICAN ELECTRICAL HEATER COMPANY, F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A. CORPORA- TION OF MICHIGAN ELECTRIC IRON Application ineav :man 1s. ma. semi iro. 348,065.

This invention relates generally to electric i heaters and concerns itself more particularly with that type of heater having a switch associated with the heating element and having control means for the switch mounted for manual operation exteriorly of the heater.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide a control unit for the switch mounted independent of the cover for the heater and free from lconnection with an part of the latter. The arrangement is such7 as to ermit the control means to be readily assem led upon the heater as aunit without the necessity of manipulating any securing means. j

Other objects and novel features of construction of the present invention will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when Vconsidered in connection with the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional view ofY a haterconstructed in accordance with this invention; A

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken at substaitially right angles top-the section aforesa1 Figure 3is a trol unit.

For the purpose of illustration we have perspective view of the con- -shown our invention as applied to an electric iron. As shown in Figure 1 of the drawing a heating element 11 seated upon the base, a body portion or pressure plate 12 clam 'd to the heating element by means of bo ts 13 threaded into the base and a cover r14 also seated upon the base 10 and concealing the parts aforesaid of the iron. The cover is preferably held in assembled position upon the base by means of a stud element 14 extending upwardl from the pressure plate and projecting t rough a suitable opening formedin the top surface of the iron for receivi'ng a clamping nut 15.

The operation of the heating element is preferably controlled in the present instance by means of a thermostatic switch 16 comprising a. casing 17 and bi-metallic--thermostatic strips 18 and 19 having the rear ends thereof portion 23 is arranged secured in spaced relation-to the casing. As shown, each bi-metallic strip extends outwardly from its point of support and the free ends thereof are provided with suitable con# tacts adapted to cooperate for completing the electric circuit to the heatin element. The two strips are otherwise insu ated from each other and are so constructed and arranged that under increasin temperature conditions both elements are etlectedlaterally in the same direction, and in the construction shown both the strips 18 and 19 move away from the base of the casing upon increase in tem erature. For breakmg the circuit to the eating element an adjustable stop 2O is provided having'its lower end arranged in the path of travel of the bottom strip 18 in such a manner as to engage the outer end thereof when the deflection of the same corresponds to a p redetermined temperature.

The upper end ofthe adjustable stop preferably extends `through a suitable aperture formed in the pressure plate 12 and terminates adjacent the cover 14. The arrangement is such that uponfa rise in temperature both of the thermostatic elements moye laterally away from the base of the casing 17 until the lower strip 18 strikes the end o the adjustable stop 20, whereupon further movement of the strip 18 is retarded and further increase in temperature causes the upper strip 19 to move away therefrom and separate the contacts. i

For actuating the adjustable stop 20 to vary the temperature at which the swltch operates to break the circuit we provlde suitable control means 21 freefrom any connection with the heater and capable of being assembled with or detached from the latter as a unit. The control unit comprises a plate 22 having an embossed surface 2 3 adapted to project through a correspondingly shaped opening 24 formed in the top surface ofthe cover 14. The plate is further provided with a marginal portion 25 surrounding the c mbossed portion aforesaid and en able with the under surface of the cover a jacent the opening 24. As shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the'drawing the top surface of the ernsubmntially i justable element 20. The detachable'drivinv connection between the sleeve-like portion 2? and the adjustableelement 14 is accomhshed by forming an elongated slot 28 m the -sleeve-like portion of suilicient width to receive a rojection 29 extending laterally from the a justable element. The control arm 26 is secured to the plate 22 to form a unitary construction therewith by means of a spring clip 29 enga eable in an annular elcess 30 ormed in t e sleeve-like portion The control unit/121 is preferably held in spaced relation to the body'portion 12 of the h eater by means of a spring metal substantlally inverted U-shaped member 32 having its base secured to the plate 22 and having the leg portions thereof flared outwardly and Aseated upon the body portion 12. The arrangement is such that when the cover is assembled upon the heater as shown in Figure 1, the leg portions. of the member will be placed under compression. In other words,

the leg portions of themember 32 exert an upward force upon the plate 22 to normally restrain the marginal portion 25 thereof in engagement with the bottom surface of the cover adjacent the' opening 24. In order to e facilitate assembly of the cover upon the heater and to compensate for any slight inaccuracies in manufacture the adjustable element 20 is capable of universal movement relative to the cover. The arrangement is such as to permit the control unit to be shifted relative to the cover prior to assembling the latter upon the heater so that a proper `engagement of the embossed portion in the opening 24 is insured.

Thus from the foregoing it will be noted that we have rovided a control unit for adjusting the t ermostatic switch which is mounted independent of the cover and is free from positive connection with any part of the heater. i

What we claim as our inventionis: 1. In an electric heater, the combination withv a cover .and a heating element, -ofa switch for controlling the operation of the heating element, a control unit for controlling ,the operation'of the switch, said unit including a plate having a portion disposed beneath the coverland having another portion projecting into an opening formed in the latter and arranged flush with the top surface of the cover, and a control arm mounted upon the projecting portion aforesaid of the plate and operatively connected to the switch.

2. An electric heater having in combinav tion, a body portion, a heating element, a cover for said body portion and heating element, a switch for controlling the operation of the heating element, control means for the switch removable as a unit from the heater.

swltch for controlling the operation of heating element, control means for the switch including a plate disposed within the opening vaforesaid in the cover and having a vportion normally restrained in'engagement wit?, the cover, and a control armmounted upon the exposed portion of the plate and opera- `tively connected to the switch.

4.` An electric heater having in combination,\a heating element, a cover for the heating element havin an opening therein, a switch for controlling the operation of the heating element, control means for the switch including a plate disposed within the cover in a position to form a closure for the opening aforesaid in the cover and having a marginal portion normally restrained into engagement with the under surface of the cover for holding the same in assembled position upon Athe heater, and a control element carried by the portionv of the plate exposed through the opening in the cover and operatively connected to the switch.

5. An electric heater having in combination, a heating element, a cover for the heat- 4ing element having an opening therein, a

switch for controlling the operation of the heating element, a control unit for the switch including, a plate having a portion projecting into the opening aforesaid in the cover and arranged substantially flush with the top surface of theplatter and havin a marginal lOl' lllA

portion normally, restrained .into engagement with the under surface of the cover, and

a control arm mounted upon the projecting.Y portion aforesaid of the plate and operatively connected to the switch.

, 6. An electric heater having inv combination, a heating element, a cover for said heating element having an opening therein, a switch for controlling the operation of the heating element, and means for controlling the operation of the switch including, a plate having an embossed portion conforming to the shape of-the opening inthe cover and projecting into thejsame lforming in effect a opening, and a control member carried by the embossed portion and operatively connected to the switch.

7. An electric heater having in combination, a body portion, a heating element, a switch for controlling the operation of the heating element, a cover for concealing the ling the operation'of t parts aforesaid of the heater, means for controlling the operation of the switch from a point exteriorly of the cover, said means in-` cluding a control unit seated upon the body portion. and normally restrained in engagement with the cover for holding the same in assembled relation with the heater.

8. In an electric heater, the combination with a cover having an o ning therein and a heating element, of a switch for controlling the loperation of the heating/ element, and means for. controllin the switch from a point exteriorly of t e cover includin a control unit having a portion exten ing through the opening and having another portion engageable with the under surface of thecover adjacent the opening, and yieldable means normally restraining said last mentioned portion into engagement with the cover for holding the control unit in assembled position.y 9. An electric heater having in combination, a heatin element, a cover for the heating element avi an opening therein, a switch for controlling the operation of the heating element, vand a control unit operatively connected to the switch for controlling the same, said unit including, a plate having a portion projecting into the opening aforesaid in the'cover and arranged substantially Hush with the top surface of the latter and having a marginal portion engageable with the under surface of .the cover adjacent the opening,and yieldable means normally restraining said marginal portion into agement with the cover to hold the contro unit v 10. An electric' heater having in combination, a heating element a switch for controllie heating element a cover substantiallyfincasing the heating e ement and switch, and a control unit for actuatingl theswitch from a point exteriorly of the eater, said control unit comprising a control arm projecting through an aperture in -the cover, and meansY for supporting the control arm including a member' interposed between a part of the heater andscover and vieldable means normally urging said memt r into engagement with the cover foi-'"holdi said control unit in membled relation with the heater. n

11,. In an 'electric heater. the combination with a cover having an opening therein and a heating element concealed by said cover, of a switch for regulating the operation of the heatin element, and means for controlling the switch from a point exteriorly of the cover, said means inc uding a member located within the cover in registration with the opening therethrough and carrying a control element exten ding 'through the said opening,

and means for yieldably clampin said member against the inner surface o the cover surrounding the opening for maintaining said member in assembled relation with the cover.

12. An electric heater having in combination, a heating element, a switch for regulating the operation of the heating element, a cover substantially enclosing the heating element and switch and having an openin therethrough, means operatively connecte to the switch for controlling the operation of the same, said means including amember disposed within the cover in registration with the opening and having the marginal portions thereof engageable with the inner surface of the cover surrounding the opening, a control arm carried by said member and projecting through the opening -for manipulation from a point exteriorly of the cover, and yieldable means arranged under tension between the said member and a fixed part of the heater when the latter is in assembled -relation for clam ing the member with the control element t ereon in osition.

In testimony whereo we aix our signatures.

FRANK KUHN. LAURENCE H. THOMAS. 

